Physics for Biomedicine

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Students may only gain credit for one of

• 640-112 Physics 2: Advanced
• 640-132 Physics 2: Physical Science & Technology
• 640-172 Physics 2: Life Sciences & Environment
• 640-182 Physics for Biomedicince
• 640-122 Physics B (Adv) (prior to 2008)
• 640-142 Physics B (prior to 2008)
• 640-152 Physics for Biomedical Science B (prior to 2008)
• 640-162 Physics: Principles & Applications B (prior to 2008)

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the University’s programs. This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this with the subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject will develop students' appreciation of the importance of physical principles to biomedicine as well as their understanding of the principles underpinning human structure and function, medical diagnostics and therapeutics.
The subject provides an introduction to:
Mechanics: in the context of human and animal movement (introduction to Newton's laws of motion, energy transfer and transformation).

Waves: the basis of modern physics including lasers;
Fluids: blood flow, respiration (pressure in fluids, fluid flow, viscosity);
Thermal physics: energy balance of living organisms (thermal energy, temperature, heating processes, first law of thermodynamics);
Electricity and magnetism: bioelectricity, nerve conduction, electrical safety (forces between electric charges, electric circuits, resistance, capacitance, magnetic forces);
Atomic physics and lasers: fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy (structure of the atom, photons, spectroscopy, interaction of light with matter);
Radiation: radiation safety, therapeutic uses of radiation (the atomic nucleus, isotopes, nuclear decay and radiation, physical and biological half-life, ionising radiation); and
Imaging: modern biomedical imaging (X-rays, CT-scans and angiography, ultrasound imaging, positron emission tomography).

To enable students to understand the importance of physical principles to biological and environmental sciences, and develop their capacity to:

• understand and explain the physics principles of fluids, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, atomic, radiation and imaging physics;
• apply these principles using logical reasoning, together with appropriate mathematical reasoning, to a variety of familiar and novel situations and problems in the biological and environmental sciences; and
• acquire experimental data using a range of measurement instruments and interpret these data.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• explain their understanding of physics principles and applications lucidly, both in writing and orally;
• acquire and interpret experimental data and design experimental investigations;
• participate as an effective member of a group in tutorial discussions, laboratory and study groups;
• think independently and analytically, and direct his or her own learning;
• manage time effectively in order to be prepared for regular practical and tutorial classes, tests and the examination.

This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine.

Required equipment: laboratory coat and safety glasses.

To prevent repetition of content, students who have completed VCE Unit 3/4 Physics, or equivalent, normally will not be permitted to enrol in this subject.